RIOT AFTERMATH

Waipukurau Press, Volume XXVIII, Issue 119, 14 May 1932, Page 5

RIOT AFTERMATH

In Wellington Court A LABOURER CHARGED ARMED WITH A STONE (Per Press Association) WELLINGTON, This Day. Prosecutions arising out of the rioting were continued to-day. In the case of William Henry Peace (25), labourer,’ charged with being a rogue and vagabond in that he was found armed with an offensive weapon, decision was reserved. The weapon was a stone, and the alleged offence was committed in connection with Wednesday's happenings in Cuba Street.

SHOULD MR. COATES HAVE

APPEARED?

QUESTION BY COUNSEL •

William Alexander George Lockhart, aged 24, a woollen worker, pleaded not guilty to being a rogue and vagabond in that he was found armed with an offensive weapon with felonious, intent. He also denied having assaulted a Constable. The police stated that they regarded accused as one of the leaders of lawlessness that followed the march tn Parliament. They alleged that he threw a piece of iron at the police at Parliament gates striking Constable Waugh. He saw he was being watched and moved off into the crowd. Subsequently, he was seen with a party of rioters in Lambton Quay and was arrested at the corner of Manners and Cuba Street. An iron socket, connected to a piece of plated wire, was found in his pocket. Detective-Sergeant Revell said that accused had frequently come under his notice in the past few months. He had associated himself with all Communist meetings. “I will describe him as an ordinary hooligan,” said witness. Counsel was objecting to the nature of the questions, but the Magistrate again held the- evidence was relevant to intent, which was part of the ingredients of the charge. Cross-examined, witness said some of the speeches at Parliament gates did not tend to keep the crowd subdued. Such statements as “why doesn’t Coates come out,” did not help at all.

Counsel: It was a question a good many people were asking themselves. Don’t you think if Mr. Coates had come out within a reasonable time it would have

kept the people quiet? The Magistrate did not consider the question a proper one, it was answering another question.

In regard to the bar of iron, witness said that the man who would throw that piece of iron, was fit for anything. Witness further said he did not try to arrest accused when he threw the bar because he thought it would be indiscreet. He knew accused and knew he could always get him. “1 thought it behoved everyone there to try and keep the peace as much as possible,” said witness. Constable McGhee said that when he arrested accused, he told accused he could kill a man with that instrument. Accused replied, “It’s specials I’m after.” Witness said accused was well known to him. He would describe him as a larrikin. Decision was reserved.

Rogue and Vagabond

Arthur James Timothy Rawlings, 30, pleaded guilty to being a rogue and vagabond in that he was found armed with an offensive weapon, an iron bar, with felonious intent, and to two charges of theft. Sentence ■was deferred.